Towards the end of December 2011 the House of Commons Select Committee for Communities and Local Government published their report on the Draft National Planning Policy Framework or NPPF.

While their findings may not be quite as rosy as the interpretation chosen by minister Greg Clarke they are none the less far from damning. For the most part the debate seems to have evolved around the definition of Sustainable Development – because, says the NPPF, planning authorities should have a default presumption in favour of them.

Just about everyone has commented on the definition of Sustainable Development, but the one proposed by the committee seems to address many of the concerns of both sides:

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of existing communities and future generations to meet their own needs. It is central to the economic, environmental and social success of the country both that these three aspects of development are addressed positively and equally and that planning both serves to protect and to enhance and add value to the environment. This is the core principle underpinning planning.

Policies in plans and decisions on development should be assessed against the principles that the nation and areas within it should live within their environmental limits; should achieve a sustainable economy and should seek to ensure a strong, healthy and just society.

The achievement of sustainable development through planning should be based on the responsible use of a sound evidence base and developed through an open and democratic system

Naturally we believe there is a very strong case that renewable energy projects, and in particular onshore wind projects, are sustainable development not least because they:

  • Reduce CO2 emissions and therefore help mitigate the effects of Climate Change
  • Reduce the increasing dependence on imported fossil fuels
  • Reduce the cost of household electricity bills as fossil fuel costs continue to rise and eventually surpass those of renewable sources
  • Provide valuable local income via extra employment and community reward schemes
  • Promote the development of community owned schemes where local residents benefit financially from decentralised energy generation